The 2017 Victorian junior teams were announced today by Golf Victoria’s high performance department ahead of the Australian Boys' & Girls’ Amateur Championships and Junior Interstate Series to be held in NSW from 4-13 April.
There has been just one change to the girls’ side which finished runner-up in 2016, with Kono Matsumoto set to make her anticipated state team debut after becoming an Australian citizen last September.
The team will be captained by Alizza Hetherington who is coming off the back of a breakthrough year, taking out the ‘Victorian double’ with wins at both the Girls’ Championship and Women’s Amateur Championship. Her outstanding play has seen her rocket into second place on the national girls’ rankings as she looks towards her second junior interstate series in Victorian colours.
Alexandra Hilliard, Linley Ooi, Gabriela Ruffels and Zara Woodbridge will all return in 2017 to round out the girls' side who will compete at Port Kembla Golf Club from 9-11 April. The team will be coached by VIS assistant coach Darren Cole and managed by Jo Charlton.
This year the boys’ team will welcome three new team members in Max Charles, Antony Majstorovic and Jasper Stubbs. Andre Lautee will captain the side on the back of a strong year in 2016. Lautee recorded wins at the Murray River Junior Masters and South Australia Junior Masters, as well as winning the 2016 Victorian Junior Averages. He continues to move up the national rankings where he currently sits at number eight.
Toby Walker and Cameron John complete the boys' side who will play at the Riverside Oaks from 10-13 April. The team will be coached by David Capaldo, professional at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club and managed by Golf Victoria High Performance Manager Ashley Marshall.
Kay Bannan (Southern, 14 year's old), Pheonix Campbell (Huntingdale, 15) and Nathan Page (The National, 13) have been selected to travel to NSW as development players. They will compete in the Australian Junior Championship and support the players at the Junior Interstate Series.
2017 Victorian Girls' Team
|
NAME |
HOME CLUB |
AGE |
|
Alizza Hetherington © |
Royal Melbourne |
16 |
|
Alexandra Hilliard |
Commonwealth |
17 |
|
Kono Matsumoto |
Victoria |
17 |
|
Linley Ooi |
Kew |
16 |
|
Gabriela Ruffels |
Victoria |
16 |
|
Zara Woodbridge |
Royal Melbourne |
16 |
2017 Victorian Boys' Team
|
NAME |
HOME CLUB |
AGE |
|
Cameron John |
Commonwealth |
17 |
|
Andre Lautee © |
Kingston Heath |
17 |
|
Toby Walker |
Heidelberg |
17 |
|
Max Charles |
Heidelberg |
17 |
|
Antony Majstorovic |
Victoria |
16 |
|
Jasper Stubbs |
Huntingdale |
15 |